Casket support



July 19, 1938. M. LOHBERG GASKET SUPPORT Filed Jan. 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A orngys July 19, 193s. L, M OHBERG v 2,124,038

GASKET SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1937 Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE GASKET SUPPORT Application January 21, 1937, Serial No. 121,650

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in casket supports and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is particularly adapted to receive and support a casket over an open grave.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a support of the aforementioned character embodying a novel construction and arrangement through the medium of which the casket may be lowered with safety and which is adapted to be used with or without a conventional lowering machine.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a casket support of the character described comprising a plurality of rockably mounted rollers engageable beneath 'the casket for supporting the same.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a casket support of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efcient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a View in top plan of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through one side of the invention, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a plurality of tubular metallic corner posts I of suitable diameter and height, said posts including bases 2 and heads 3. J ournaled in the posts I and extending therethrough, adjacent the upper ends thereof, are sectional side shafts 4 of polygonal cross section. Also journaled in the upper portions of the posts I are sectional end shafts 5 which are also of polygonal cross section. If desired, the sections comprising the shafts 4 and 5 may be telescopic to facilitate adjustment of the device for the accommodation of various sizes of caskets. Meshed worm gears 6 are xed on one end portion of the shafts 4 and on one of the shafts 5 for rotating the shafts 4 in opposite directions in unison. The gears B are enclosed in the end posts I at this end of the device. The reference numeral 'I designates a hand operating crank which is fixed on one end of the shaft 5 which carries the worm gears 6.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the shafts l extend through and project beyond the posts I at the operating end of the device. Mounted on the shafts 4 at longitudinally spaced points are arms 8. The arms 8 include polygonal eyes 9 on one end which accommodate the shafts 4. Set screws l0 are provided for securing the arms 8 in position on the shafts 4. The reference numeral II designates brackets which are pivotally mounted, as at I2, for rocking adjustment on the free end portions of the arms 8. The brackets II include substantially U-shaped portions I3 in which rubber rollers I4 are journaled. Projecting laterally from the arms 8 are integral lugs I5 in which stop screws I5 are threadedly mounted for adjustment. Lock nuts Il are provided for the screws I6. Projecting from the pivoted ends of the brackets II are integral lingers I8 which are engageable with the screws I6 for limiting the rocking movement of said brackets in one direction. The reference numeral I9 designates stop bars which are xed on one end portion of the shafts 4 for preventing the casket from rolling beyond this end of the device.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The device is positioned over the grave with the rollers I4 in raised position, substantially as shown in the drawings. A casket may now be conveniently mounted on the support from one end thereof with a minimum of effort, said casket traveling over the rollers I4 until arrested by the stop bars I9 on the other end of the device. The worm gears 6 will support the casket in any position, no other locking means being necessary. To lower the casket it is, of course, only necessary to actuate the hand crank 1, thus rotating the shafts 4 in opposite directions for swinging the rollers i4 downwardly. The rockable mountings of the brackets I I will permit the rollers I4 to readily adjust themselves as may be necessary during and after the mounting of the casket on the device. The casket must, of course, be positioned within the area defined by the shafts 4 and 5 in order to clear the latter when said casket is lowered.

It is believed that the many advantages of a casket support constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood,

and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A casket support comprising a plurality of corner posts, side shafts extending between certain of said posts and journaled therein, end shafts extending between certain of the posts and journaled therein, means operatively connecting the side shafts to the end shafts for actuation thereby in unison in opposite directions, arms fixed on the side shafts at longitudinally spaced points, brackets pivotally mounted for rocking adjustment on said arms, and horizontal rollers journaled in said brackets and engageable beneath a casket.

2. A casket support of the class described comprising a pair of spaced, parallel shafts of polygonal cross section, arms xed on said shafts at longitudinally spaced points, brackets journaled for rocking adjustment on said arms, said brackets including substantially U-shaped portions, rollers journaled in said substantially U- shaped portions and engageable beneath a casket, coacting means on the brackets and arms for limiting the swinging movement of said brackets in one direction, and means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions in unison.

3. A casket support of the character described comprising a pair of spaced, parallel shafts of polygonal cross section, means for rotatably supporting the shafts, manually operable means for actuating said shafts in opposite directions in unison, arms fixed on the shafts at longitudinally spaced points, said arms including polygonal eyes accommodating the shafts, lateral lugs on the arms, stop screws adjustably mounted in said lugs, means for securing said stop screws in adjusted position, brackets pivotally mounted for rocking adjustment on the free end portions of the arms, said brackets including substantially U-shaped portions, elongated rollers journaled in said substantially U-shaped portions and engageable beneath a casket, and fingers integral with the pivoted ends of the brackets engageable with the stop screws for limiting the swinging movement of said brackets in one direction on the arms.

4. In a casket support, spaced parallel shafts,

arms xed to each shaft and positioned to extend toward the other shaft when in supporting position, brackets pivoted on said arms and having roller supports extending above the arms when in supporting position, rollers on said supports, means on said brackets and arms limiting the pivotal movement of the brackets inwardly, and means to rotate the shafts in opposite directions in unison.

5. In a casket support, spaced parallel shafts, arms xed to each shaft and positioned to extend toward the other shaft when in supporting position, brackets pivoted on said arms and having roller supports extending above the arms when in supporting position, rollers on said supports, means on said brackets and arms limiting the pivotal movement of the brackets inwardly, and means to rotate the shafts in opposite directions in unison, said first named means comprising fingers on said brackets and adjustable stop means on said arms.

6. In a casket support, spaced parallel shafts, arms fixed to each shaft and positioned to extend toward the other shaft when in supporting position, brackets pivoted on said arms and having roller supports extending above the arms when in supporting position, rollers on said supports, means on said brackets and arms limiting the pivotal movement of the brackets inwardly, and means to rotate the shafts in opposite directions in unison, said first named means comprising fingers on the brackets, lugs on the arms, and screws threaded in the lugs to provide adjustable stops for the fingers.

7. A casket support of the character described capable of use in conjunction with a conventional lowering device and adapted to act as an independent support for the casket by which the casket may be transferred to the lowering device, said casket support comprising a supporting framework including spaced parallel shafts mounted for rotation on said support, means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions, arms xed on said shafts at longitudinally spaced points and having means thereon for supporting a casket whereby to provide a safety support for the casket independent of the lowering device, said arms being movable in a vertical plane by rotation of said shafts to establish a safety support at different levels.

LOUIS M. LOHBERG, 

